Featured

Lack Of Fund May Dash Nigeria’s Hope of African Olympic Qualifier Championship

Published

5 years ago

February 17, 2020

Joel Ajayi

With just 4 days to the commencement of the World Taekwondo (WT) African Olympic Qualification Tournament this weekend in Morocco, the hope of Nigeria’s participation may be dash unless money is released for athletes to participate.

Aljazirah Nigeria Sports gathered that the team is expected to depart the country on Tuesday (Tomorrow) for the tournament but feelers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports showed that lack of fund may prevent the team from making the trip to Rabat, Morocco.

Already, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) had secured a visa for the participating athletes and officials as the team is still awaiting the nod from the Sports Ministry to be certain of being part of the qualifiers later this week.

Meanwhile, the athletes that will represent Nigeria at the qualifiers will be made known later this week as over 20 athletes are at present shaping up in Abuja for the qualifiers as Nigeria is aiming to return to the Olympic Games after its last appearance at London 2012.

Following the successful campaign at the Fujairah Open held in Dubai last month, where Elizabeth Anayancho and Benjamin Okuomose picked up bronze medals for Nigeria, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has assured the team of his support.

However, the African Qualification Tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the Taekwondo event will be taking place 20 – 24 February 2020 in Rabat, Morocco. The finalists in each weight category will secure their places at Tokyo 2020.

Share on Facebook

Featured

NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

Share on Facebook